Customer Reviews

Familiar Strangers: Gypsy Life in America

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This intelligent and exceedingly well researched book brings the gypsy world-warts and all-through your front door. Filled with surprises-American gypsies have a national palm reading network with tightly defined terrioties-and affectionate portraits of these elusive people. "Familiar Strangers" is required reading for any American who is interested in learning about his gypsy neighbors.

All in all I find the book too detached from the reality of the Gypsy people. It is above all an academic book, and it is the human side of the Gypsies that is so captivating to those who know them. In many ways they are more innocent, more caring, than non-Gypsies. Some of that she describes when she tells about Roma attitudes towards animals. Still, for those who know nothing about Gypsies/Roma I do recommend the book. Sonia Meyer

Sway attempts to be fair to the people known as "gypsies," with the result that she overlooks behavior that may contribute to the problems they face everywhere. In her efforts to make their behavior conform to questionable sociological theories, she fails to view gypsy life objectively and, therefore, helpfully. Information about these fascinating people is always difficult to authenticate. This book is especially questionable.